Medieval (scene 1)
Requested by windtear: Mediaeval AU where Watanuki's family knew about the curse et al and decided to harness it - so Watanuki's been brought up by a family of enchanters/sorcerers to be an enchanter/sorcerer (and hey, family might not be dead. Or might be off in an alternate universe learning new mad leet skillz but phone home regularly). Yuuko could be the sorceress the family apprenticed Watanuki to when they realised he didn't have exactly the same powers they did. Or maybe she's a business rival. And Doumeki's the local farm kid who turned outlaw when the town sheriff took his family's farm in lieu of punitive taxes. Or maybe he turned soldier for hire (but I like the outlaw version). He wants Watanuki the Sorcerer's Apprentice on his side and Watanuki knows he really shouldn't be friends with the archer. Himawari is the local forest spirit who keeps pushing the silly human boys together to a) make them happy and b) give her cute boykissing to watch.
I do believe this request was very nearly longer than what I got out of it. And somehow, the bit about Doumeki rather needing Watanuki's assistance despite whether or not this was a good idea turned into the bit that stuck with me…
"What part of 'apprentice' do you not understand?" Watanuki complained.
"No fireballs then?"
"Nothing remotely close to fireballs! Do you have any idea what the first two years of apprenticeship to Yuuko is like? I've hardly even seen a spellbook yet!"
"Oh."
"Why don't you do something? Isn't slaying monsters what your lot is all about?"
"I'm an archer."
Watanuki looked at him, then looked pointedly at the longsword strapped to his hip.
"Mostly an archer," Doumeki amended.
"Aargh! This is all your fault!"
"Why my fault?"
"If you hadn't practically kidnapped me, I wouldn't be here at all!"
"I wouldn't have had to kidnap you if you'd just come along when I asked," Doumeki reminded him patiently.
"That's exactly what makes it kidnapping!"
Up above, the monster growled at them impatiently.
"Perhaps this is an argument we should leave until later," Doumeki suggested.
"Fine," Watanuki had to concede.
"Any other ideas?"
"….I'm pretty good at running away."
"Sounds like a plan," said Doumeki. "On three?"